Book of condolences for Brendan Grace

LORD Mayor of Dublin, Paul McAuliffe will open a Book of Condolence for Dubliners to pay their respects to much loved Dublin Comedian Brendan Grace RIP.

News that Grace had passed away broke this morning. He was aged 68 and had been in hospital for the last few weeks receiving treatment for pneumonia. He was also receiving ongoing care and treatment for cancer.

The Mansion House will be open to the public to sign the book of condolences today (Thursday, July 11) from 12 noon to 5pm and tomorrow (Friday, July 12 from 10am-5pm).

“Brendan Grace was a true Dubliner who captured the unique Dublin sense of humour and brought it to audiences at home and across the world,” the Lord Mayor said. “I am opening this book of condolences to allow the people of Dublin an opportunity to express their own feelings for the loss of Brendan Grace, a true comic genius.”

Fellow comedian, Brendan O’Carroll, said Grace would be missed in Dublin and beyond.

“So sad at the passing of a great comedy legend, husband and father,” he posted on Twitter. “He opened doors for so many of us and leaves a legacy of love and laughter that will echo through this land and we will all mourn his passing. Rest peacefully Bottler you’ve earned it."

President Michael D Higgins also paid tribute to the popular Dubliner.

“I have learned with great sadness of the death of Brendan Grace, singer and comedian," he said.

"As a comedian Brendan's spontaneous wit and his sense of timing, his obvious delighting in interaction with his audiences, meant that Brendan's sense of humour was drawing from, and itself a profound contribution to, the deep wellspring of Irish wit. 

"His best-loved characters will endure, precisely because they are both recognisable and representative of the experiences lived and recalled by Irish people of all ages. 

"It was a privilege to know him, and a pleasure to meet Brendan as recently as the 5^th of June last, when he accompanied The Forget Me Nots choir to a Garden Party at Áras an Uachtaráin. 

"As President of Ireland, I express my deepest condolences to his wife Eileen, his children Bradley, Melanie, Brendan and Amanda, and to his wider family and his friends, and all who valued his acuity and sharp sense of humour.”